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Too often, coaches say “my kids,” and while I understand the wording, I think it’s crucial to remind yourself that you have only a few hours to impact, teach and care for your players.

John Kessel is about to embark on another season of coaching, and he reminds you that being a caring coach is of utmost importance.

Teams lose. Sometimes they lose badly. Where do you go next when your team is down?

What are the magic drills that make some teams so good? Big secret: it's not the drills. There is no magic.

It's been a summer full of "aha!" moments as I visited numerous coaching clinics around the world.

It's summer, and it's time to learn about yourself as a coach and how to impact players more effectively.

There are many ways to define success for a volleyball coach.

Understand the powerful importance of creating a healthy culture in a program.

Then and now, creating randomness in the learning process, and its imperfections, creates both better retention and creative play at any level.

It's not about wrong or right, but about what is more effective. It's not criticism when science guides us to more effective ways to learn, it is information, which sadly many traditional coaches chose to ignore. As the great William Penn said, "Time is what we want most, but what we use worst."

If there was one thing I would ask clubs and schools to change, it is to play far less 6 v 6 at younger ages, if any at all, where all but one of the kids stands around and watches the ball. For ALL ages, play much more 1v1/2v0/1v1+1/2v2, and reserve 6 v 6 for older players. It really is that simple.

It’s not about wrong or right, but about what is more effective. It’s not criticism when science guides us to more effective ways to learn, it is information, which sadly many traditional coaches chose to ignore.

This month, I journeyed for the second time in a year above to our neighbor north of the 48 states, to work with ACE Volleyball club as part of their Make-A-Wish project. The athletes had fundraised over $24,000 beyond their club costs, for the second year in a row.

There is a small market pro baseball team working hard to get their players “Ready at 7.” This is the time of most single, regular-season games, and the maximum number of games in the World Series. They are also challenging their sport’s traditions in the areas of learning.

That is something my friend and mentor for over 40 years once told me; add that Carl McGown also often said “There is no magic,” and you will start to have an idea of his mind and his work. Each coach brings his or her own magic to the court but there is only hard work and the science 

The coach you choose can determine whether a child will continue to play or can have a negative impact on their skill development

Lost a friend last month, who impacted so many, without being a coach – just by being damn good at what he did, officiate.  Players around the world held a moment of silence.  We had set up skiing plans for this season, and enjoyed a great Rio Paralympics together – after he was done being a great Rio Beach Olympic referee. 

How can we avoid creating false confidence in players?

Sometimes, a little reminder is the push you need to keep trying.

For more than 40 years, one of the first things I say to new teams and summer camp players is just that: “I want to see mistakes out here on the court.”  

Consequences and punishment are so prevalent in our sport and this blog explores why. It also talks about how outcome, winning and losing, is "punishment" enough to continue to drive the desire to get better.